Pressing apparatus.



J. J. BBRRIGAN.

" PRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE so ms.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRL'S PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON D c.

J. J. BERRIGAN.

PRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE so, 1913.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

fill-7926419667" Jame/aim:

' NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTG-L|THO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

JOHN J. BERRIG-AN, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, T0 A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HENRY R. WORTHIN'GTON,

PRESSING APPARATUS.

pressing apparatus and in particular to ap- V paratus for expressing liquids from solids.

The object of the invention is to provide a pressing apparatus especially adapted for operation by gravity and of such construction that from the action of gravity alone great pressures may be; obtained, while at the same time this pressure may be readily controlled either to reduce it, or to increase it .by the application'of a force extraneous to gravity. 1

With this object in view, my invention consists in the features, details of construction and combinations of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a press embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a side view of the same; Fig. 3 a detail side view showing the press'equipped with bottom closing means, and with one formof filtering media place; Fig. 4: a detail view showing automatic means for washing the press cake. Fig. a a detail view showing the workingface of one of the plates; Fig. 5 a detail sectional view of one of the devices for pivotally connecting the pressing members in a yielding manner; Fig. 6 a detail view showing twoipressing members connected at their lower ends, with a modified form of filter bag in place; Fig. 7 a diagrammatic view illustrating a multiple unit press embodying a modification of the invention. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the'drawings, 1, l indicate cooperating pressing members, in this case comprising a pair of platens arranged to be pivotally connected together toward one end. In the embodiment shown, the pressing members are'pivotally connected at their top ends by a suitable means comprising a device located at each side of the pressing members. Each connecting device, in the example illustrated,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30,1913.

- the screw and bearing at one end against the devices, the distance apart of the two press-' Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Seria1No.776,567.

consists of a screw 2, pivotally connected to one of thepressing members, as by a pivot pin 3 secured to one of the pressing members and passing through an eye in said screw 2, the screw passing through a sleeve 4?, swiveled to the other pressing member, as for example by pivotally mounting said I sleeve 4 on a pivot pin 5. Upon the screw is mounted a nut 6 provided with awheel? by which it may be rotated manually. Between the nut 6 and the sleeve 4 a suitable yielding means fofholding the two pressing members together is provided, this yielding means, in connection with the screw and nut, also constituting, in the present embodiment of the invention, a pressure limiting connection between the pressing members. In the embodiment illustrated, the yielding means consists of a helical spring 8, surrounding sleeve 4: and at the other end against the nut 6.

It will be clear from the description thus far-' that by rotating the nuts 6 of the two ing members at the point of pivotal connection may be varied, and owing to the presence of the spring 8 this connection is a yielding one.

Since in actual practice it is-important that the two nuts 6 should be adjusted simultaneously in order to avoid 'unnecessary' strains on thepressing members, suitable transmitting mechanism is employed between the two nuts 6, whereby thev manual adjustment of one nut will result in the corresponding adjustment of the other nut. In

' the example illustrated, this result is accomfor causing this downward movement or de scent'of the pressing members to produce a movement of said pressing members toward each other.v In an apparatus for express ing'liquids from solids it is particularly advantageous to subject the material to be expressed first to a light pressure and later to a heavier pressure, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention the construction is such as to accomplish this result, that nor by pivotally mounting each pressing member in levers,.or link devices, arranged one at each side of each pressing member, said levers being provided with fixed or sta tionary fulc'rums, which however may be ad justable, as hereinafter explained, these tulcrums being in a plane lying below the plane through the points. where the pressing members are pivoted to the said levers. In

the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,

thepressing members i, 1"", are provided at:

each side with horizontally projecting trun-. nions 11, and each trunnion is ournaled.

or pivotally mounted, in one end of a linkor lever, as indicated at 12, each lever being fulcrumed in'a suitable boxing or fulcrum, as indicated at 13, these fulcrums being arranged to be adjustable yet fixed or station ary in any position to which they may be adjusted. In the example illustrated, the

links supporting each. pressing member are fixed to a shaft 13 each shaft being mounted vrotatably in its respective boxings, 13, which are mounted on suitable supports such as the pedestals 14c, secured. to a base 15 It will be observed that in the construction illustrated there is a pair of boxings 18 at each side of the pressing members, and each boxing 13 is so mounted on its respective pedestal as to be adjustable toward 0r from the other boxing of the pair. To permit of this adjustment While at the same time. suitably holding the boxing toits respective pedestal, an interlocking device is provided. between each pedestal and its respective boxingythis being formed as follows in the present example: Each boxing 13 is provided with a plurality of downward extending T-heads or dovetailed ribs 16which slide in correspondingly dovetailed grooves or guideways, so. that each boxing of a pair can move toward or from the corresponding opposite boxing of the same pair, but is incapable'of movement in any other direction. Suitable adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the boxings 13. of a pair toward or from each other and for locking or holdingsuch boxings rigidly in any position to which they may be adjust-. ed. In the present instance this means consists of a pair of tensionrods 17 for each pair of boxings 13, these rods passing through holes in the boxings 13 above and below the fulcrums of the respective levers, said rods being screw-threaded and pro-'. vided with inside and outside nuts 18, 19, which serve to clamp the respective boxings between them. It will be noticed that the weight of the pressing: members 1, 1*, will tend to swing the links or levers, 12, down ward and as these are fulcrumed in the stationary boxings 13 and hence have an angular movement with relation to their fulcrums, the pressing members are caused to move toward each other as they descend, so that any material will be pressed by them,,

the reaction due to such pressure being sustained by thelevers 12, and their fulcrums,

the levers being subjected to a compressive strain as a result of this reaction, wherefore said levers must be constructed as thrust members so as not to be deflected by the compressive strains.

. Since the weight of the pressing members causes a thrust on each lever and its ful crums in a direction such. as to move each boxing of a pair away Irom the corresponding boxing of the pair, it is only necessary to screw outward the nuts 18, 19, of the tension rons 17 in order to properly adjust'the fulcrums outward, the boxings movingoutward under the outward thrust when permitted to do soby the proper movement of the said nuts, and being drawn toward-each other when the nuts are screwed in-the reversedirection for that purpose.

The proportioning and adjustment of the parts areintended to besuch, under the best conditions of operation, that when material I is in place between the pressing members thelatter willlhave such a limit of downward movement that the levers, 12, will come to a substantially horizontal position,

that is to say, the pivotal points of each end 53 of each lever-will be in a substantially hori zontal plane or, at least,.the said lovers will make an infinitesimal angle to such horizontal plane, with the inner pivotal points slightly above the horizontal plane. Fun thermore, at thislimit, the pressing faces of thepressing members: should lie in substantially vertical planes. By this construction the pressureto which the material is sub-- jected gradually. increases and theoretically should approach infinityv at the conclusion of the pressing operation. The initial pressure at the beginningot the pressing opera tion is determinedby the weight of the pressing members and their load of material, assisted by the ,weightof the attached parts.

For the purpose of giving .controlof the pressure to which the material is to be subjected the preferred embodiment of the invention is provided with means arranged to check the fall or descent of the pressing members, said means acting in a direction opposed to that of gravity. Such a means may be in the form of a brake, such as a hydraulic brake or delay-action device, and is most advantageously arranged to be centrollable or adjustable in its action. In the present example, this checking or controlling means comprises a piston and cylinder, one of these two parts being so connected with the pressing apparatus that the descent of the pressing members will produce a relative motion between the two parts, this motion being checked by a fluid contained in the cylinder, the arrangement being such that said fluid will be forced out of the cylinder by the said relative movement of the parts, the rate of discharge of the fluid be- 2 ing controllable. In the example shown the cylinder, indicated at 20, is provided with a piston 21, movable therein. The piston is connected with some part of the press which will move during the descent of the pressing membersso that such movement'will cause the movement of the piston. Inthe present example the piston 21 is provided with a piston rod 22 having a head 23 end, to which are pivotally connected two links 23, whose other ends are pivotally connected to arms 24, carried by the levers 12. In this example the descent of the pressing members causes a downward movement of the piston 21 in the cylinder. An outlet for the fluid is provided below the piston, this outlet being controlled by an adjustable valve, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Hence by adjusting the valve the rate of escape of the fluid from beneath the piston may be regulated.

In order to balance the strains on the pressing apparatus it is advantageous to provide each side of the latter with a cylinderand piston, as shown in Fig. 1. With such duplicate apparatus the outlets of the cylinders are connected by a pipe 25 which, at an intermediate part is connected to a pipe 26 in which is located a controlling valve v27, which, for the present purposes should be a finely adjustable needle valve,

in order that said valve may be'adjusted to allow the escape of the fluid very slowly, even drop by drop, when necessary. The valve may be cut ofl from the system by a valve 27 and thus the descent of the pressing members stopped whendesired.

In the practical operation of the press it i is necessary to provide means for lifting the pressing members, and for this purpose, as well as to replace the fluid beneath the piston, the pipe 26 is connected to any suitable source of fluid supply, not shown, a supply valve 28lserving to control the admission of at its upper increasing the pressure on the material to be pressed, suitable means may be provided for applying power to any of the moving parts in such a direction as to move or assist in moving the cooperative pressing members toward each other. In the present example such means is combined with the checking or delay-action device, by providing devices for applying apressure to the upper side of one or both of the pistons 21. In the present example each cylinder, 20,, is provided at its upper end with an inlet connected to a feed pipe 29, common to both cylinders, said feed pipe being connected to a suitable source of fluid supply (not shown) which may be steam, compressed air or water under pressure. Suitable valves for controlling the admission to the cylinders may be provided as indicated at 30. This means for applying a supplemental force to the pressing members is particularly advantageous for use at the last stages of the pressing operation since it assists in giving. a final heavy squeeze to the material.

It is to be observed that by the ruseof an incompressible fluid, such as water, beneath the pistons, the latter may be reliably and positively controlled during the descent of said pistons and may be positively raised to lift the pressing members, while on the other hand by the use of an elastic fluid such ascompressed air or steam upon the upper side of the pistons, the supplemental pressure'applied to the pressing members is a yielding one, whereby unnecessary strains on the pressing members are avoided. From this it will be clear that the apparatus may be provided with positive means for controlling the descent of the pressing members and with yielding means for increasing the pressure of said pressing members on the material.

While the cooperating pressing members or platens may be of any suitable construction, particularly'such as will enable said pressing members to be made as heavy as may be desired in order to give the necessary weight for pressing, an important feature of my invention consists in so constructing the pressing members that. the press cake may be subjected to further treatment in the press such, for example, as treatment by gas, acid, steam or water. In Figs. 4 and 45* I have shown an embodiment of my in vention particularly adapted for use in a press where the press case is to be washed as, for example, with water. The washing of the cake is very important in many uses and the construction is such that water may be admitted to one side of the cake so as to be forced through the same. In this construction the inner faces of the two pressing members are formed with vertically extending depressions or grooves as indicated at 31, these grooves being connected at the top and bottom ends with cross grooves 32 and 33 respectively, the top cross groove 32 serving as an inlet groove while the bottom cross groove 3-3 serves as an outlet groove. Over the grooved surface is placed any usual foraminatcd sheet metal liner as indicated at 31*. The top groove is supplied with water or the like by means of an inlet pipe and the bottom cross groove 33 is tapped by an outlet pipe These inlet and outlet pipes may be controlled by valves 36, 3'7, 38, 39, which may be operated automatically by the press so that at a predetermined position of the descending pressing members one of the said inlet valves is opened as for example 36, and the outlet valve of the same member, for example 3?,is closed while the outlet valve 39 of the opposite member is opened and its inlet valve 238 closed whereby water is forced into one of the top cross grooves, thence down the vertical grooves, 31, over the surface of the cake and through said cake to its other side from which point it is carried away by the vertical grooves of the other member to the open outlet pipe at that side. On a further descent of the pressing members, the previously open inlet and outlet valves 36, 39, are closed and the closed outlet valve 37, is opened so as to drain off any water which remains in the vertical grooves of its pre sing member. The further pressure on the cake serves to drive out any remaining water in the cake so that a perfectly dry cake is delivered. By opening the inlet valve 38 and the outlet valve 37 and closing the other two valves and 39 the fluid may be forced through the cake in the opposite direction when desired, preferably prior to the final pressing stage. Many means may be devised for operating this cake washing apparatus automatically by the descent of th press. For example as shown, the valves for the inlet and outlet of the washing water may be formed as simple co ks which have levers connected with their plugs, as indicated at of) and 3%,

which levers are pivotally connected by a rod 37 whose end terminates a sui'hcient distance above the flopr e0 allow the pressing.

members to sink the desired distance before striking the floor or the of the machine. As the press continues to sink, the rod is stopped by the floor and forces the levers and their plugs angularly upward relative to the respective valve bodies. This first opens the inlet valve and then later, by the further descent of the press the inlet valve closes and the outlet valve opens. On, the opposite sideof the press the arrangement may be the same, or the outlet valve only may be operated by the rod, the inlet. valve not being connected to said rod. Fur thermore, only one of the press faces may be grooved as shown, and the other of any usual construction, in which case the valve mechanism for supplying washing water or the like is provided only in that pressing member havingthe grooved face. In this 7 form the water merely first charges the cake and then is pressed therefrom in the usual way. p 7

In order that the material being pressed may be treated at any desired temperature the pressing members are suitably provided with means for heating or cooling them.

This is conveniently doneby making said pressing members hollow and providing each with an, inlet for a heating or cooling fluid as indicated at 40 and with an outlet for such fluid as indicated at 41.:

For the purpose of receiving the liquid discharged from the press any suitable receptacle maybe mounted beneath the pressing members and in the drawings 1 have shown atray 42, mounted on. rollers 43 arranged to move on rails is for the purpose of receiving the discharge from the press,-

The specific apparatus hereinbefore described has been illustrated. as comprising a 1G0 pairof cooperating'pressing members constituting what might be termed a single pressing unit. Where very high pressures are required, an advantage is obtained by constructing press with a multiplicityof 5 such pressing units, for the reason. that-the desired pressure can be obtained without making the individual members too heavy, Such a multiple unit press is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 wherein a press 110 of two units is illustrated; This press differs from the single unit press hereinbefore described principally by having, the cooperating pressing members trunnioned in brackets suitably supported by intermediatells' links, so, 47, 4:8, said intermediate links being pivotally connected to the respective 1 thrust members 12 corresponding to the thrust members 12 of the single unit press,

In the double unit press illustrated in Fig. 7 120 the intermediate links constitute three linlc age devices between the ends of the thrust members, the central linkage device being 7 mounted directly on the piston rods of the rams or other checking and lifting device. .125

"When the ra is are raised and the central linkage device lifted to the maximum extent upward thepressing members or platens 4:9, 50, carried by the brackets 51 upon the said central linkage device areelevated in asub- 13cmam V 5 stantially vertical direction while the trun nions of the co-acting pressing members 52, 53, carried by the two exterior linkage devices will not only be lifted but also will be moved bodily outward away from the center of the apparatus, whereby the respective pairs of pressing members are separated to permit the insertion of the material to be pressed. Upon the descent of the pressing units by the action of gravity, the exterior linkage devices move angularly and eventually occupy a position where their pivotal points lie in planes inclined toward the center of the apparatus so that the brackets 54 supporting the trunnionsof the respective outer pressing members will swing inward and thereby move said pressing members toward the corresponding pressing members of the central linkage device. In this way the combined weight of the multiple units and their loads is effectively employed to create the necessary pressure on the material.

.It is to be understood that the pressing members may be pivotally connected in any suitable way, either at their top or bottom ends, as for example by the pivotal connecting means shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and when so connected will be moved angularly about their pivotal points, by the rise and fall of 30 th e press. The filtering media may be held in place in various ways, sometimes being formed merely as a pair of bags one within the other, it being advantageous to have the interior bag larger than the exterior, these bags being suitably secured together if desired at the top and placed between the pressing members, after which the top edges of the pressing members are brought together whereby the top of the bag will be clamped to hold thesame. Or, if desired, the filter cloths may be brought over the top edges of the pressing members and held by suitable eyelets engaging pins on the exterior aces of said pressing members.

By the use of a plurality of filter cloths of different degrees of fineness arranged with the finer fabric outside, greatly improved results are obtained when working on certain classes of materials, particularly those containing a large amount of liquid with very fine particles of matter in suspension therein. lVith such a plurality of filter cloths arranged in bag-form, one within the other, the bag of finer fabric being outside, considerable advantage results by having the inner bag larger than the outer, particularly because of the increased rate at which the liquid is expressed.

If desired, the opening between the lower edges of the press plates may be closed as shown in Fig. 3 by suitable means,.for example, supporting plates 55, having arms 55, pivoted to the pressing members as at 56, and secured together at their lower ends by a suitablepivotal connection 57 so that as the pressing members approach each other the sealing plates may swing downward. This modification is particularly useful where the material to be pressed is inclosed in bags since the said bags may be conveniently put in place by opening the press, moving the pressing members to a substantially vertical position, and theninserting the filled bag, which may rest upon'the supporting plates, whereupon the top edges of the pressing members are brought together and the apparatus is ready for the commencement of the pressing operation. For some purposes it is particularly advantageous to provide the bag with a suitable bag outlet as the tube indicated at'58, Fig. 3, which tube may project downward through a suitable opening in the supporting plates. A construction of this kind is particularly useful where it is desired to press only, a

part of the liquid from the material and remove the remainder of the material through the bag outlet in a semi-fluid condition. By making the bag outlet or tube of flexible.

material, the escape of the fluid may be prevented simply by compressing the tube as,

for example, with a cord or clamp.

In Fig. 6, I have shown another modifi- I cation wherein the pressing members are provided with pivotal connecting means at their lower ends. ticularly useful with a bag filter which is provided with an inlet at the top as indicated at 59, and with an outlet 60, at the bottom whereby the bag maybe filled by closing the outlet and opening the inlet a which may lead from a suitable source of supply. Thereupon the pressing operation may be conducted to the desired point to express the liquid, the pressing members then lifted to separate them, and a further supply This construction is parof material charged into the bag through j I the inlet and the above described operations repeated. In this way a liquid containing but a small amount ,of solid material may be rapidly handled and a press cake built up to the desired size. Or several charges may be pressed to the desired semi-fluid con,- dition and then discharged through said outlet. With a filter bag of this form a convenient supporting means may be provided, for example, by equipping each side of the bag near its upper end with a suitable hanger 61 which may consist of a fold of flexible material through which a rod 62 can be passed, these rods having their ends engaged by pivoted clamps 63 mounted at each side of the upper edges of the pressing member.

From the description hereinbefore given, I it will be seen that in an apparatus embodymg my invention, the' cooperating pressing working faces in planes extending in a general upward direction, as distinguished from a horizontal direction, and said members are so mounted as to be capable of movement in a general up and down direction, so that by lifting the said pressing members and then releasing them they may descend under the action of gravity. Furthermore, means is provided whereby the said downward move ment or descent of the pressing members with their load causes a movement of said pressing members toward each other, that is direction transverse to subjected to heavy strains and must of necessity be of considerable weight are so arranged as to transmit the force due to their weight inthe lateral or transverse direction to produce the pressure. A further most important advantage of this construction for the purpose of expressing liquids from solids is that the pressing faces readily free themselves from the liquid, since the latter can flow away directly from such pressing.

faces and from the filtering cloths when such are employed. Furthermore, owing to the pivotal connection together of the two pressing members, the pressure is applied to the material in a gradually progressive manner from one end toward the other, thus giving a gradual discharge of the liquid and, hence, a better opportunity for it to escape at the early stages of the pressing operation, whereby rapid operation is possible at such early stages without placing undue strains on the filter cloths or fabrics.

As the rams may be filled beneath their respective pistons, with a suitable fluid, for example, water, and this water allowed to escape gradually through the valve 27, the said rams thus serve as a checking device or delay-action device to delay the descent of the press, the material being of suchpressure.

pressed and the duration Therefore by suitable ma:

nipulations of the control valve, the amount of such delay-act1on may be varied as desired during any given descent of the press, so that the pressure on the material may be varied as desired during the pressing operations. Hence, by this means a sufficient range of pressures and a sufficient variation Ihis is due to the fact that the moving parts which areand thus modify the pressure on pivotal were of pressures may be obtained so that the material may be subjected to a relatiirely light pressure in the early stages of a given, pressing operation and to a gradually in-; creasing pressure thereafter. By a gradual increase of the pressure on the material, very advantageous results are attained, particularly when working with a plurality of filter cloths arranged withlthe finer cloth outside.

What 'I'claim is Y 1. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of fulcrums, of a pair 0 thrust devices angularly movable about. the respective fulcrums and extending toward each other, and a pair of cooperating pressing members, each thrust member, ranged to move downward under the action of gravity and toward each other in a direction transverse to that due to gravity.

2. In a pressing apparatus, the combina tion, with cooperating pressing members mounted for and having pressing faces extending in a carried by its respective general upward direction, of a pair 'ofstai tionary fulcrums, and a pair of thrust devices angularly movable about said fulcrums and extending toward each other, said thrust devices being pivotallyconnected .to'.

the pressing members:

gravital movement downward both members being ar 3. In a pressing apparatus, the combina-..

tion, with cooperating, pressing members mounted for gravital ."movement downward and having pressing faces extending in a general upward direction, of means for causing the downward movement of said members to produce an increasing pressure on said members-to move other, and means for braking said downward movement of the pressing members.

4. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of cooperating pressing members mounted for movement downward under the action of a vertical force, and means for pivotally connecting said pressing members together, ing the downward movement of the press.- ing members to produce a gradually decreasing angular movement of said pressing members about their pivotal. connection and toward each other.

5. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, thecombination, with a pair of stationary fulcrums and a pair of thrust devices angularly movable about said fulcrums and extending toward each other, of a pair of cooperating pressing members pivotally connected to the respective thrustmembers, and means for pivotally connecting the pressing members together along a pivotal axis out of the connections of said pressing members and their respective thrust devices. 7

6. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with. a pair.

them toward each a of means for 1 caus plane through the pressing members of adjustable stationary fulcrums and a pair of thrust devices angularly movable about said fulcrums and extending toward each other, of a pair of cooperating pressing members pivotally connected to the respective thrust members, and means for pivotally connecting the pressing members together along a pivoted axis out of the plane through the pivotal connections of said and their respective thrust devices. 7

7. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the-combination, with stationary fulcrums, of a pair of angularly movable thrust devices fulcrumed on said fulcrums, a pair of cooperating pressing members, each pivotally supported on its respective thrust member, and means for pivotally connecting the said cooperating pressing members out of the plane through the pivotal connection of said members and their respective thrust devices, whereby a force acting downward on the pressing members produces a resultant movement of said members toward each other.

8. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with stationary fulcrums, of a pair of angularly movable thrust devices fulcrumed on said fulcrums, and a pair of cooperating pressing members, each pivotally supported on its respective thrust member, means for pivotally connecting the said cooperating pressing members out of the plane through the pivotal connection of said members and their respective thrust devices, and power means arranged to move said thrust devices angularly.

9. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with boxings arranged in pairs, means for adjusting each boxing of a pair toward or from the corresponding other boxing of said pair and for holding them in their adjusted positions, and thrust devices fulcrumed in said boxings and angularly movable relative thereto, of pressing members pivotally mounted. in the corresponding thrust devices of diflerent pairs, and means for lifting said pressing members.

In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with boxings arranged in pairs, means for adjusting each boxing of a pair toward or from the corresponding other boxing of said pair and for holding them in their adjusted positions, and thrust devices fulcrumed in said boxings and angularly movable relative thereto, of pressing members pivotally mounted in the corresponding thrust devices of different pairs, means for lifting said pressing members, and means for controlling their descent.

11. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with cooperating pressing members, mounted for gravital movement downward, and means for causing said downward movement to produce an approach of the pressing members, of means for applying a positive force to lift said pressing members, and means for applying a yielding force extraneous to gravity to press said pressing members together.

12. n a pressing apparatus, the combina tion, with a pair ofcooperating pressing members each having a plurality of depressions in its working face, of means for supplying fluid to said depressions, and means for moving said pressing members toward and from each other.

13. I tion, with a pair of cooperating pressing members, having their pressing surfaces in planes extending in a general upward direction, each face having a plurality of grooves, an inlet cross groove and an outlet cross groove, of controllable means for supplying fluid to the inlet cross groove, and controllable means for leading'away fluid from the outlet cross groove.

14.. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with cooperating pressing members arranged side by side and mounted for gravital movement downward, said members be[ ing provided with means for supplying fluid to material being pressed, of automatic means actuated'by the gravital movement for controlling the supply of said fluid to V the said members.

'15. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with a pair of cooperating pressing members, and means for forcing said members toward each other, of filtering media located between said pressing members and comprising fabric bags of different degrees of fineness arranged one inside the other, the interior bag being larger and also coarser than the exterior bag. 7

16. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair. of cooperating pressing members, and yielding means forpivotally connecting said pressing members at one end, of means for applying pressure to said members at points away from said pivotal connection and in a pressing members together.

11 an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with a pair of cooperating pressing members, yielding means for pivotally connecting said members at one end and means for applying a pressure to said members at points away from said pivotal connection, and in a manner to force them together yieldingly, of

filtering media located between said pressing members and arranged material to be pressed, said filtering media comprising a plurality of filtering fabrics of different degreesof fineness arranged one inside another, the exterior fabric being finer than the interior fabric.

to inclose the n a pressing apparatus, the combina I manner to force the.

18. In a pressing apparatus, the combina: tion, with b'oXings arranged in pairs, the boxings of each pair being movable toward each other, a plurality of threaded rods connecting the boxings of each pair and nuts on said rods whereby the boxings of each pair may be adjusted and fixed at any adjusted position, of thrustlevers fulcrumed in said boxings and angularly movable relative thereto, pressing members trunnioned, in the corresponding thrust levers of differ ent pairs, and pivotal means for connecting said pressing members at a point away from their trunnions.

19. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with boxings arranged in pairs, the boXings of each pair being movable toward each other, a plurality of threaded rods connecting the boXings of each pair, and nuts on said rods whereby the boXings of each pair may be adjusted and fixed at any adjusted position, of thrust levers fulcrnmed in said boXings and angularly movable relative thereto, pressing members trunnioned in the corresponding thrust levers of different pairs, pivotal means for connecting said pressing members a at a point away from their trunnions, and means for lifting said pressing members.

20. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a plurality of thrust devices, and

Copies of this patent may he obtained for means for lifting the said pressing mem- 40.

bers.

21. In a pressing apparatus, a combina tion, with a plurality of thrust devices,and a pluralityof linkage devices connected between said thrust devices, said linkage devices carrying brackets, of a plurality of pairs of cooperating pressing members pivotallymounted in said brackets, said pressing members having their working faces in planes extending in a general direction upward; means for pivotally connecting to gether the corresponding pairs of pressing members, and means for lifting the said pressing members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses;

JGHN J. snnnrean.

Witnesses:

J, A. Graves, T. F. Knrronu five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lPatents,

Washington, I). 0. 

